Book ~ "Dinner with Edward: A Story of an Unexpected Friendship" (2016) Isabel Vincent

From Goodreads ~ When Isabel meets Edward, both are at a crossroads: he wants to follow his late wife to the grave and she is ready to give up on love. Thinking she is merely helping Edward’s daughter - who lives far away and asked her to check in on her nonagenarian dad in New York - Isabel has no idea that the man in the kitchen baking the sublime roast chicken and light-as-air apricot soufflé will end up changing her life.

As Edward and Isabel meet weekly for the glorious dinners that Edward prepares, he shares so much more than his recipes for apple galette or the perfect martini, or even his tips for deboning poultry. Edward is teaching Isabel the luxury of slowing down and taking the time to think through everything she does, to deconstruct her own life, cutting it back to the bone and examining the guts, no matter how messy that proves to be.

"Dinner with Edward" is a book about sorrow and joy, love and nourishment, and about how dinner with a friend can, in the words of M. F. K. Fisher, “sustain us against the hungers of the world.”

Edward was in his early 90s and had just lost his wife, Paula, of over 60 years. He wanted to join her in death but she had him promise that he wouldn't. So instead he's sadly living his life. Isabel's marriage is falling apart ... things are tense and she's unhappy. When Valerie, her oldest friend and one of Edward's daughters, becomes worried about him, she asks Isabel to check on him (Valerie lived in Toronto, his other daughter lived in Greece and Isabel and Edward lived in New York). Isabel does and that begins their friendship and their frequent dinners with Edward doing the elaborate cooking and them sharing stories about their lives.

I thought this story was okay. It was nice that they found each other in their times of need and became friends. It's written in first person perspective in Isabel's voice. I found Isabel and Edward a bit snooty at times, though. I know Edward was from a different generation but it was odd to have him advising her on how to better herself (telling her to wear more red lipstick, going fancy dress shopping with her, etc.) and Isabel going along with it. It would have been nice to have some photographs of them ... apparently Edward had tons in his apartment of his life with Paula.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are orange and butter.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Book ~ "Silent City" (2013) Alex Segura

From Goodreads ~ Pete Fernandez is a mess. He's on the brink of being fired from his middle-management newspaper job. His fiancée has up and left him. Now, after the sudden death of his father, he's back in his hometown of Miami, slowly drinking himself into oblivion. 

But when a co-worker he barely knows asks Pete to locate a missing daughter, Pete finds himself dragged into a tale of murder, drugs, double-crosses and memories bursting from the black heart of the Miami underworld - and, shockingly, his father's past. 

Making it up as he goes and stumbling as often as he succeeds, Pete's surreptitious quest becomes the wake-up call he's never wanted but has always needed - but one with deadly consequences. 

Welcome to Silent City, a story of redemption, broken friendships, lost loves and one man's efforts to make peace with a long-buried past to save the lives of the few friends he has left.

Pete's life had promise. He and his fiancée were in love and he enjoyed his job at a newspaper in New York. When his father unexpectedly passes away, they head to Miami to settle his father's affairs. But things start to fall apart ... they stay longer than planned, he and Emily break up and she marries someone else, he's not happy with his new job at a local newspaper and he's drinking a lot. 

When Chaz, a colleague he barely knows, asks him for a favour, Pete figures it would be a quick distraction. His daughter, Kathy, is an investigative reporter for the paper and he doesn't have a great relationship with her. Chaz thinks she has disappeared and he asks Pete to find out if she's okay. As Pete starts to check things out, he realizes something is amiss with Kathy. Concerned he keeps digging because no one else seems to be concerned. For a story, Kathy had been investigating a serial killer named Silent Death and she may be his latest victim.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it. It is written in third person perspective with the focus on Pete. I liked Pete and felt kind of bad for him. His life was falling apart and it didn't seem like he really cared. He was still hung up on Emily and even though she had moved on, she still meets him and their good friend for drinks. On the plus side, he loves music and has a cat. As a head's up, there is violence and swearing. It's the first in the Pete Fernandez series and I look forward to reading the rest.

Happy birthday, Crumpet

Happy 14th birthday to my girl, Crumpet!

Toronto Blue Jays 5 ~ Washington Nationals 2, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

To celebrate Gord's birthday, we went to the Toronto Blue Jays game.

It was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bobble head giveaway night to the first 15,000 attendees. We were surprised that we both got one ... usually giveaways are gone by the time we get there. But it was a Monday night after an opening weekend and there were only about 20,000 tickets sold.

Here we are ...

Gord and his bobble head

Me and Gord

It's too cold to have the roof open.

Earl's Kitchen + Bar, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had his birthday supper today at Earl’s Kitchen + Bar on King Street W (at Bathurst Street).

Gord had a Jumbo Lump Crab Cake (Caper remoulade, prawns, fennel salad).

Happy birthday, Gord!

Wishing my husband, Gord, a very happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Muffin!

Happy 7th birthday to my girl, Muffin!

"ELEPHANT", The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I spent the afternoon volunteering as ushers at ELEPHANT, which is part of Game of Life, at The Theatre Centre on Queen Street W (just west of Dovercourt Road).

ELEPHANT brings you into a shared space with the performers, where the ripple effects of one life-changing event unfold. It’s honest and deeply human—blending personal stories, spontaneous moments, and heartfelt connections as the group navigates how to hold onto each other, find joy, and make sense of life. It’s part documentary, part lucid dream, and not entirely under control.

Storytelling, the Game of Life, singing, dancing and more! Participation from the audience was encouraged. Lots of fun! 

"Red", The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I volunteered as ushers at the opening night of RED this evening at The Theatre Centre on Queen Street W (just west of Dovercourt Road).

 It's an intense story about painter Mark Rothko and Ken, his assistant, and the two actors did an excellent job. 

RED reflects on what it means to create a space for contemplation. What can art teach us about finding the balance? How can we use it to process complex emotions and work through our trauma? From prepping canvases and mixing pigments to their symbiotic dance of painting, Rothko and his new assistant, Ken, are weighed in the balance, challenging each other on art, life and what it means to be human.

"Lucy AI", Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

I volunteered this afternoon during Lucy AI at the Theatre Centre on Queen Street W (just west of Dovercourt Road). It is part of Game of Life, runs continuously and is here until tomorrow. 

When Lucy was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2018, her dear friend David Usher wanted to make sure her memories lived on. The result is LUCY AI - an interactive video installation where you can step into Lucy’s world, hear her thoughts and connect with her memories. It’s personal, powerful and changes every time you experience it.

Once a video of Lucy finishes telling a story, it's quiet and this orb appears. This is when you can press a button on an iPad and have a conversation with Lucy AI about anything. She was very engaging and would ask you questions back.

King Taps King West, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening at King Taps on King Street W, just east of Bathurst Street. It was a really busy spot. 

Toronto Blue Jays 2 ~ Baltimore Orioles 12, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

This afternoon was the home opener of the Toronto Blue Jays and Gord and I were there!

Jamie Campbell and Joe Siddal broadcast for SportsNet.

Everyone received a complimentary Jays toque.

Gord and I

The Blue Jays were playing the Baltimore Orioles.

Book ~ "Toni Tennille: A Memoir" (2016) Toni Tennille and Caroline Tennille St. Clair

From Goodreads ~ Since bursting onto the scene in the mid ‘70s, the pop duo Captain and Tennille have long defined the sparkling optimistic idea of everlasting love, both in their music and through their image as a happy and, seemingly, unbreakable couple. They were an irresistible pair to millions of fans all over the world, further underscored by the rousing “yes, we can!” gospel of their biggest hit, “Love Will Keep Us Together.” 

But underneath the image was an entirely different story that the fans never saw: a woman who fought a lonely struggle against the controlling and often bizarre behavior of her emotionally inaccessible husband. 

"Toni Tennille: A Memoir" is a visceral account of Toni Tennille’s life from her childhood in the segregated South to her thrilling rise to fame in the world of pop music to where she is now: no longer one-half of a famed couple but a stronger woman for all she has experienced - both the good and the bad. Toni hopes that her story will help anyone who feels trapped in a toxic relationship realize that it is never too late to break away from it.

I wasn't a huge fan of Captain & Tennille but I like reading memoirs so I thought I'd check it out. Toni starts with her childhood being raised in an affluent household in the South. Her father had run the store that had been in the family for generations. But he was an alcoholic who would go on binges and it wasn't pretty. They eventually lost the store and moved to California to start over. Toni had always been musical and eventually met Daryl Dragon. They got together and formed a duo. Toni was in love with Daryl but he was a strange guy and she was determined to fix him. More than 30 years later in 2014 she finally gave up and divorced him when they were in their 70s.

I thought Toni had interesting stories and I liked the writing style. I find it amazing that she spent so many years with a cold husband who didn't treat her well. He was controlling and she let him. He had weird eating habits and she adapted to his. They travelled a lot and instead of experiences the different cultures, she allowed him to dictate what they ate. She wasn't young when they met and had been married and divorced ... I would have bailed on him once I found out what he was really like. She seems like a nice person and I'm glad she finally found her way.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are black and mint green.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Astoria Shish Kebob House, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had lunch at the Astoria Shish Kebob House on the Danforth with the Toronto Social Seniors and Retirees group. 

Here we are ...

I had a chicken souvlaki dinner and it was really good.

Book ~ "Rowdy: The Roddy Piper Story" (2016) Colt Baird Toombs and Ariel Teal Toombs

From Goodreads ~ In early 2015, Roderick Toombs, aka Rowdy Roddy Piper, began researching his own autobiography with a trip through Western Canada. He was re-discovering his youth, a part of his life he never discussed during his 61 years, many spent as one of the greatest talents in the history of pro wrestling. Following his death due to a heart attack that July, two of his children took on the job of telling Roddy's story, separating fact from fiction in the extraordinary life of their father.

Already an accomplished wrestler before Wrestlemania in 1985, Roddy Piper could infuriate a crowd like no "heel" before him. The principal antagonist to all-American champion Hulk Hogan, Piper used his quick wit, explosive ring style and fearless baiting of audiences to push pro wrestling to unprecedented success. Wrestling was suddenly pop culture's main event. An actor with over 50 screen credits, including the lead in John Carpenter's #1 cult classic, "They Live", Piper knew how to keep fans hungry, just as he'd kept them wishing for a complete portrait of his most unusual life. He wanted to write this book for his family; now they have written it for him.

Roddy Piper was professional wrestler and actor. He was born in Saskatoon, SK, in 1954 (I didn't know he was Canadian). He was the youngest of three children and his family moved around a lot because his father worked for the CN Rail Police. His father was a strict disciplinarian and Roddy left home at an early age and fell into wrestling. Starting out, he did the circuits across Canada and the States before becoming the mouthy heel "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He was in the process of researching and writing this book when he passed away in suddenly in 2015 and two of his children took up the job of finishing his story.

I was a fan of wrestling in the late 1980s and early 1990s (I even attended Wrestlemania VI in April 1990 at the SkyDome here in Toronto). I knew wrestling was fake but it was fun. I like reading bios and have had this on my to-be-read list for years so finally read it. Despite his persona of being a heal, Roddy sounds like a nice fella who was loved and respected by all. It was interesting to read the behind-the-scenes stories of the wrestling world and the wrestlers who were villans and enemies but actually good friends of Roddy's. I found it was written at a high level with just enough detail. I found myself Googling the names of wrestlers I haven't thought about in years to see what they are up to today (alas, many had passed away young). It's an interesting book if you are/were a wrestling fan. There are lots of pictures at the end. As a head's up, there is swearing and descriptions of drug and alcohol use.